New school year in U-46 brings larger class sizes; fewer programs

Coleman Elementary School Principal Brian Stark knows his is one of the lucky schools in Elgin Area District U-46 that came away relatively unscathed from the massive cuts the district took to overcome a mounting deficit and looming state budget cuts.

In March, the school board reduced about 25 percent of the district's staff - or 1,037 positions - to save the district about $29 million. The layoffs included 732 full-time teachers; 106 secretarial positions, 121 educational assistants; 54 transportation workers; and 24 administrators and nonunion employees. The district laid off more people than necessary to pad against state cuts. In the end, 486 teachers were rehired, district Spokesman Tony Sanders said.

Across the district, art, music and gym programs were scaled back or eliminated. Guidance counselors at the district's eight middle schools were cut. So, too, were football programs at the middle school level.

At Coleman, on Elgin's northeast side, program reductions were minimal. Of the six teachers laid off at the end of the 2009-2010 school year, four were called back. Class sizes, for the most part, are between 28 and 30 students.

Still, some of the effects of the budget cuts were evident as the 580 Coleman students started the new school year on Wednesday. The library remained dark and locked up with chairs stacked on desks. Shelves of books were hidden behind coverings, protected from dust. Students will not have access to the library for another two weeks.

This year, a librarian splits her time between Coleman and Channing Elementary School. Students spend 30 minutes in the library every two weeks.

"Of course I would like to have her here every week," Stark said. "But when she's here, she is here for the whole week and sees every class."

In addition to fewer library services, Stark said special programs like fine arts for kindergarten were eliminated. Stark said it is unclear if or when the programs would be reinstated.

"That depends on the budget and the state funding," Stark said.

Some of the classrooms for older students were affected, too. In Steve Olofson's sixth-grade class, 34 students sat elbow-to-elbow around desks in groups of four or more. One desk butted up against the teacher's desk.

"We have had some big classes, but it has been a few years since we had one this large," Stark said.

Because of the larger classes, the district combined a number of multi-grade classes. Teachers participated in workshops on how to teach to more than one grade level in a classroom.

"I know our teachers are prepared and I know they are ready to be back," Sanders said. "Despite the reductions, teachers will do everything they can to make it a positive experience for the students and to make sure they learn."